The Burnie – by Walter Wingate (1865-1918)

Over the next twelve months or so, I will be doing a series of posts under the category “Scottish Poets & Their Poems“. Most of these poems will have an English translation from the Scottish dialect version.

Walter Wingate was born on 15th April 1865, in Dalry in Ayrshire (NE Scotland). He was a schoolmaster and a poet, he taught mathematics at St. John’s Grammar School in Hamilton, near Glasgow, for most of his adult life. Even though he never published any books of his poetry, he was a regular contributor to the Glasgow Herald and Evening News.

The Burnie – Original Version

Here’s a bonnie burnie
Singin’ a’ its lane,
Singin’ frae a happy heart,
Like a sinless wean!

What a worl’ to sing to!
Grey auld hills around;
Rowin’ mists about their heads
Ilk ane sleepin’ sound’!

‘Mang the heather rovin’,
Sheep and Hielan’ kye;
Hillward airt their heads, the while
The burn gaes singin’ by.

E’en the shepherd laddie,
Whistlin’ on the scaur,
Hears nae music but his ain!
Where could fate be waur

Than yours, my bonnie burnie,
To sing for ever mair?
Sing your sweetest and your best,
Wi’ nane to ken nor care

But the happy burnie,
Carin’ nocht ava
What may hear or what may heed
Sings and sings awa!

 

Wee Burn – Lomond Hills

 

The Burnie – English Translation

Here’s a pretty stream
Singing along its way,
Singing from a happy heart,
Like a sinless child!

What a world to sing to!
Grey old hills around;
Rolling mists about their heads
Each one sleeping sound!

Moving amongst the heather,
Sheep and Highland cattle;
Their heads directed towards the hill,
while the stream goes singing by.

Even the shepherd lad,
Whistling on the steep hill,
Hears no music but his own!
What could a fate be worse

Than yours, my pretty stream,
To sing for ever more?
Sing your sweetest and your best,
With none to know nor care

But the happy stream,
Cares not at all
Who may hear or who may heed,
Sings and sings away!

 

Wee Moorland Burn

 

Wee Burn